Loose leaf binder



K. HANDLER 2.179,62?

M, 1939. K. HANDLl-:R 21799627 I LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov.. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES.

PATENT' oFFlcE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Application January 13, 1936, SerialyNo. 58,939 In Austria January 18, 1935 17 Claims.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders, and particularly to binders of the visible type having means for shifting the sheet retaining prongs on one side of the binder relative to those on the opposite side.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder of the type wherein the Sheet retaining prongs may be separated in conventional manner by angular displacement of the prong carrying plates with simple and efiicient means for sliding the prong carrying plates longitudinally a predetermined distance relative to each other. It is a further object of this invention to provide means whereby the prong carrying plates are automatically displaced angularly relative to each other and then moved back to their original relative angular position every time said prong carrying plates are moved said predetermined distance. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying the invention:

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the metal structure of the binder with the sheet retaining prongs in closed position and with certain prongs broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the sheet retaining prongs open and the prong carrying plates shifted longitudinally relative to each other;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the Sheet retaining prongs in the same relative angular position as in Figure 2, but with the prong carrying plates shifted longitudinally relative to each other and with one prong broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the binder metal With the cover plate assembled therewith;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the prong carrying plates;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the rollers mounted between the prong carrying plates;

Figure 8 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the spring back; and

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a back member having cover members 3 secured along its opposite edges. 4 having inturned fianges 5 is secured to the back member 2 in any suitable manner. A pair of 55v prong carrying toggle plates E and 1 is arranged A spring back in side by side relationship with the inner longitudinal edges abutting each other and the outer longitudinal edges engaged by said inturned fianges 5 The inner edges of the prong carrying plates are notched, as indicated at 3, to receive a pluralty of rollers 9. The rollers are each provided With a pair of heads Hi of larger diameter than the combined width of a pair of mating notches 8 to enable the prong carrying plates to act as toggle plates. The heads Hi pre- 10 vent the toggle plates from shifting vertically relative to each other at their meeting edges to prevent separation of the toggle plates when they are moved angularly. i

Each prong carrying toggle plate has a pluralty of curved sheet retaining prongs ll secured thereto in any suitable manner. A pluralty of sheets |2 may be impaled on the prongs in overlapping relationship with a predetermined marginal portion of each sheet exposed. The inner edges of the prongs on opposite plates meet to form closed rings when'the prong carrying plates are in the position shown in Figure 2 With the inner edges of the plates below the plane of the outer edges. The rings may be opened by force 25 exerted directly on the rings so that the binder may be used as a conventional ring binder.

One end of each prong carrying toggle plate is recessed, as indicated at` I3, and the inner edge of each end portion is serrated to form a rack, as indicated at Hi. A pinion 15 is positioned between the racks M and is provided with a handle IB for rotating the pinion to move the prong carrying toggle plates longitudinally relative to each other. The pinion may be rotatably secured to the spring back in any suitable manner or may be removable. The handle is secured to the pinion by means of a screw Il., A cover plate |8 covering the prong carrying plates 6 and 1 is provided with a pluralty of notches I!! 40 through which the sheet retaining prongs H project. The notches are wide enough to permit the desired longitudinal movement of the prongs. The distance the prong carrying plates can move is limited by the notches 8 engagng the rollers 9. The rollers facilitate the relative longitudinal movement of the prong carrying plates by reducing the friction.

The prong carrying plate 6 is provided with a pair of spaced notches 2D, 2| with a projecting finger 22 therebetween. The plate 1 is provided with spaced notches 23, 24 and a projecting finger 25. The notches are so positioned that the notches 20 and 24 are in alinement when the sheet retaining prongs. are in closed position as shown in Figure 2. The notches 2| and 23 are in alinement when the toggle plates are moved longitudinally relative to each other as far as possible. It vvill be noted that the prong carrying toggle plates are in the same relative angular position when either pair of notches 20, 24 or 2|, 23 is aligned. However, when the plates are in position to aline the notches 2| and 23 the sheet retaning prongs are oifset longitudinally as shown in Figure 4.

When the prong carrying toggle plates are shifted from the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 4 the toggle plates are automatically displaced angularly relative to each other to open the rings, as indicated in Figure 3, and, as the relative longitudinal movement of the prong carrying plates is oontinued they are moved back to their original relative angular position. The

means for causing the relative angular displacement of the prong carrying plates includes a projection 26 securedto the spring back 4 in any suitable manner. The projection 26 is slightly higher than 'the surface of the inner edges of the prong carrying plates when they are in the position indicated in Figure 2. In this position the projection 26 fits into the alined notches 20, 24.

As the pinion |5 is rotated in a clockwise direction by means of the handle |6 the fingers 22 and 25 move into engagement with the projection 26. The projection 26 has a cam action and raises the inner edges of the prong carrying toggle plates by means of the fingers 22, 25 to open the rings as indicated in Figure 3. The projection does not extend high enough to move the prong carrying toggle plates past their dead center. Accordingly, as the fingers 22, 25 pass the top of the projection 26 the spring action of the spring back forces the prong carrying toggle plates back to their original relative angular position.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9 only one prong carrying toggle plate 21 is capable of sliding longitudinally and is provided with a rack 28. The other toggle plate 29- is recessed, as indicated at 30, to allow room for the pinion |5. The prong carrying plates 21 and 29 are provided with notches 3| having a roller 9 positioned therebetween. The notches 3| are twice as long as the notches 8 to permit the same relative longitudinal movement between the plates 21 and 29 as between the plates 6 and 1. This relative movement must be equal to the distance between two adjacent apertures 32 in the binding edge of the sheets |2, or some multiple thereof, in order to be able to move the sheets from one side of the binder to the other when the prongs are in the position shown in Figure 4. The prong carrying plate 21 is provided with spaced notches 33 having a pro- `jecting finger 34 therebetween. The spring back 35 is provided with a projection 36 adapted to engage the finger 34 when the prong plate 2'! moves longitudinally. The prong carrying plate 29 is notched along its outer edge and the spring back is slit to provide projections 31 secured in the notches to prevent longitudinal sliding of the prong plate.

The operation of either embodiment of the in- Vention may be explained quite simply. If a sheet or card l2 is to be removed and the gap between the adjacent sheets filled, the sheets |2 are moved to the right hand side of the binder and the pinion |5 is rotated to move the sheet retaining prongs ll from the normal closed position of Figure 2 to the shifted position shown in Figure 4. The

sheets |2 preceding the one to be removed are then transferred to the left side of the binder and the pinion 15 is rotated to move the sheet retainthe position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 3. The

sheet is inserted in the desired space and the shifting movement is continued to bring the prongs to the position of Figure 4. All of the sheets are then moved to the right hand side of the binder and the prongs are shifted back to the position of Figure 2.

Although, I have described tWo embodiments of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description is illustrative rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of prong carrying plates movable longitudinally relative to each other, and means engaging said prong carrying plates during' said relative longitudinal movement to move them angularly relative to each other.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, said prong carrying plates being movable longitudinally relative to each other, and means in said spring back adapted to displace said prong carrying plates angularly relative to each other when said prong carrying plates are moved longitudinally of each other.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, said prong carrying plates being movable longitudinally relative to each other,,and a projection arranged in said spring back, said projection engaging said prong carrying plates and angularly displacing them when said prong carrying plates are moved longitudinally relative to each other. v I

4. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, said prong carrying plates being movable longitudinally relative to each other a predetermined distance, and means engaging said prong carrying plates during said relative longitudinal movement to displace said prong carrying plates angularly relative to each other, said spring back being operable to move said prong carrying plates to their original relative angular position during the continuance of said relative longitudinal movement.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of prong carrying plates movable longitudinally relative to each' notches being normally alined With one notch of the other pair, and a prcjection in said spring back normally projecting into said two alined notches, said prong carrying plates being movable longitudinally relative to each other a distance suiiicient to bring said normally unalined notchcs into alinement, said projection engagingz prong carrying plates during said relative longitudinai movement to displace said prong carry- -ing plates angularly relative to each other for a portion only of said longitudinal movement.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, each of said prong carrying plates being provided With a pair of spaced notches on its inner edge, one notch of one of said pairs of notches being normally alined With one notch of the other pair, a projection in said spring back normally projecting into said two alined notches, and means to move said prong carrying plates longitudinally relative to each other a distance sufiicient to bring said normally unalined notches into alinement, each of said prong carrying plates occupying one angular position When said projection projects into either of its notches, and a different angular position when said projection lies intermediate said notches.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of prong carrying toggle plates, one of said prong carrying toggle plates having a serrated surface, and means engageable with said serrated surface to move said prong carrying toggle plate longitudinally relative to the other.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, said prong carrying plates being provided on their meeting edges with a plurality of teeth, and a pinion engageable With said teeth to move said prong carrying plates longitudinally relative to each other.

1G. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, one of said prong carrying plates having a serrated edge, means engaging said serrated edge to move said prong carrying plate longitudinally relative to the other, and means engaging said prong carrying plate to move it angularly relative to said other prong carrying plate during said relative longitudinal movement.

ll. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, the inner edge of each of said prong carrying plates being serrated, a pinion engageable with said serrated edges to move said prong carrying plates longitudinally relative to each other, and a projection adapted to engage said prong carrying plates during a portion of said relative longitudinal movement to displace them angularly relative to each other, said prong carrying plates moving to their original angular position when they are moved longitudinally out of engagement with said projection.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of abutting toggle plates mounted in said spring back, and means for shifting said toggle plates longitudinally relative to each other.

13. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of toggle plates mounted in side by side relationship in said spring back and movable longitudinally relative to each other, and a plurality of rollers positioned between the meeting edges of said toggle plates to facilitate the relative longitudinal movement thereof, said rollers each being provided with heads to prevent relative vertical movement between the meeting edges of said toggle plates.

14. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, said prong carrying plates being movable longitudinally relative to each other, and means engaging said prong carrying plates during a portion of said relative longtudinal movement to displace said prong carrying plates angularly relative to each other, said spring back holding said prong carrying plates under compression during said relative angular displacement whereby said prong carrying plates automatically return to their original relative angular position when they are moved out of engagement with said first mentioned means.

15. In a loose leaf binder, a spring back, a pair of prong carrying plates mounted in said spring back, said prong carrying plates being movable longitudinally relative to each other, a plurality of rollers mounted between said prong carrying plates to facilitate said relative longitudinal movement, and means engaging said prong carrying plates during a portion of said relative longitudinal movement to displace said prong carrying plates angularly relative to each other, said spring back being adapted to hold said prong carrying plates under compression during said relative angular displacement Whereby said prong carrying plates move back to their original relative angular position When they are moved out of engagement with said means.

16. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of prong carrying toggle plates arranged in side by side relationship, a metal plate having its edges bent to embrace the outer edges of said toggle plates, a projection on one of said toggle plates, and means engageable with said projection to move said one toggle plate longitudinally relative to said other toggle plate.

17. In a loose leaf binder, a metal back member, a pair of prong carrying toggle plates arranged in said metal back member in side by side relationship, a recess in the inner edge of each of said toggle plates, the longitudinal edges of said recesses being provided with a plurality of projections, and means secured to said metal back member engageable with said projections to move said toggle plates longitudinally relative to each other.

KOLOMAN HANDLER. 

